April 9, 2026 |
Releases

Media advisory: BCFED Day of Mourning ceremony April 28 at BC Legislature

This year’s Day of Mourning ceremony, remembering workers killed, injured or made sick by their work, will take place on Tuesday, April 28 on the steps of the BC Legislature from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

The ceremony will include speakers from labour and local government, as well as Avneet and Avnoor Sidhu, daughters of Sarabjit Kaur Sidhu. She was one of three farmworkers killed on March 7, 2007, while being transported to work in an overloaded and poorly maintained passenger van.

For ceremonies in other BC locations, see www.dayofmourning.bc.ca.

Speakers:

Host: Kirk Mercer
President, Victoria Labour Council
 
Marianne Alto
Mayor of Victoria
 
Sussanne Skidmore
President, British Columbia Federation of Labour
 
Avneet Sidhu and Avnoor Sidhu
 
Laird Cronk
Chair and Public Interest Representative, Workers’ Compensation Board
 
Hon. Jennifer Whiteside
British Columbia Minister of Labour
 
Hon. David Eby
Premier of British Columbia

Photo/video opportunities:

12:10 pm — The Victoria Firefighters Association (IAFF Local 730) Honour Guard and the Saanich Fire Fighters Association (IAFF Local 967) piper lead speakers to stage
 
12:15 pm — Speakers begin
 
12:45 pm — Participants will observe a minute of silence.
 
1:00 pm (approximately) — A series of signs will line the walkway between the stairs and the Centennial Fountain, bearing the occupation and cause of death of each worker who died because of their work in 2025. A procession of participants will lay flowers at the base of these signs.

Interview availability:

BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore will be available for interviews before and after the ceremony, as will family speakers Avneet Sidhu and Avnoor Sidhu.

Contact:

media@bcfed.ca
on site:Tracey Phan
            tphan@bcfed.ca
            778-863-0663
For availability of the other speakers, please contact their offices.

Day of Mourning background: (PDF)


BACK TO TOP

The BC Federation of Labour office is located on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) territories.